Is it OK to Try Marijuana Edibles?

A doctor’s advice on whether it’s wise to take edibles with THC to sleep or relax

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

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Published February 17, 2025

James Yates

Some of my friends take edibles to help them relax or sleep. Is that OK?

By edibles, I’m assuming you mean something like baked goods, gummies or pieces of chocolate that contain THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive chemical found in cannabis, also popularly called marijuana, weed or pot.

More than half of our states have legalized cannabis. You can check to see if it’s within the law where you live by looking at the nonprofit advocacy group NORML’s website. As a doctor, I’m going to focus on whether taking edibles is safe for your health and well-being.

A lot of older adults, including some of my patients, are using marijuana to relax, help with sleep, relieve pain, or simply enjoy its effects and boost their mood. The National Poll on Aging conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan found that in the past year, 21 percent of adults age 50 and older used cannabis in one form or another, from smoking to consuming edibles.

While I’m not making a moral judgment about anyone’s choice, I do want people to remember that marijuana is a drug. I think some folks forget this fact since, in states where it’s legal, you can just walk into a dispensary and buy edibles as if you were picking up a candy treat at the supermarket. People think, “Well, if I can purchase it in a store, then it can’t really be harmful.” But you need to remain aware, just as you would buying any over-the-counter drug in a pharmacy, that cannabis has real effects. While many are enjoyable and helpful, some may be unpleasant — even dangerous. You cannot eat them like candy.

For instance, a study of emergency room (ER) visits in California found a whopping 1,804 percent increase in cannabis-related ER visits among those 65 and over. A Canadian study also showed an increase in hospital ER visits by older people, pointing specifically to the ill effects of edibles.

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Let me be clear that most people experience problems because they’ve ingested too high a dose of THC in their edibles. Patients have come to me and said, “Dr. Adam, my friend gave me these gummies for pain because it helps him with his arthritis.” Well, that may be so, but what’s the dosage? While someone can handle a 5 mg, even a 10 mg dose, you might only be able to deal with 2.5 mg or less. Everyone’s metabolism and resistance are different. Again, as with any medication, you need to be cautious.

Edibles, in general, cause a powerful and intense “high,” and you can overdose without realizing it. If you ingest too much, it can cause nausea, vomiting and dehydration, drowsiness with dizziness, an increased risk of falling, loss of coordination, trouble standing or walking, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, anxiety or panic attacks, confusion and delusions.

Even if you were an old hand at taking marijuana in your youth, many of my older patients report that these days, pot products are much stronger. They thought they had a wealth of experience, but their edible hit them with a wallop.

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I suggest you speak with your doctor before trying an edible, especially if you’re combining it with any other medication. If you’ve never used THC or haven’t for many years, you may want to have someone stay with you who is “sober” just in case you have a scary reaction — and be sure to stay hydrated.

More research is needed to determine the potential benefits and pitfalls of cannabis for older adults. While marijuana-infused edibles have been consumed for recreational and medicinal reasons throughout history, as far back as 1,000 B.C., ultimately, the decision whether you try one today or not is up to you.